Ok I have a strange quetion about lactation in dogs...?

Question

Some dog owners at the park were discussing appropriate weaning age for dogs, and I was wondering:

1) Do all dogs NATURALLY wean at the same age? Or do some breeds or dog sizes nurse longer than others?

2) If you wean puppies by removing them from their mothers, what is the reason for it? And is it the same guidelines for all breeds/sizes?

Thanks!

None of these answers really answer my question. "Lori R" says the weaning age is universal, but also says that not all dogs will wean their pups themselves which is just stupid. Seriously. I can't believe they would nurse forever.

I am glad for the answers that say that you let the mom wean when she is ready, the thought of pups being seperated from their mom before they are ready is heartbreaking to me, but it doesn't really answer my question.

Oh well, in any case I am going to put this up for a vote. Thank you for your answers.

Answer 1

I also let the bi tch wean the pups when she is ready. Some are willing to let the pups nurse longer than others, but eventually they all get to a point where they tell the pups to get lost.

Answer 2

Generally females will start to wean the pups between 5 and 6 weeks of age. But this is only general.

Some females will try to wean at 4 weeks, others won't want to wean at all, which is when the breeders need to step in and seperate the pups from the mother for a day or two. During this day or two (after the pups are 6 weeks old), the female's milk will dry up.

Yes, this is pretty much universal for all breeds.

Answer 3

I have NEVER forced weaning. It is best if done naturally and gradually. You introduce food at three to four weeks and at that moment...weaning has begun. As the puppies eat more, they nurse less and when they go to new homes, nursing as either stopped, or is being done just for comfort and they are not getting any more nutrition from it. I have never had any problem with puppies or the bit ches. Most bit ches are quite happy when the puppies are weaned!!

There CAN be medical reasons when the puppies MUST be removed from the mother, and when that occurs, following the vet advice is best.